Sita introduces commercial food waste recycling scheme

Sita has launched a commercial food waste collection and recycling scheme in South London.

The new initiative, which began this week, collects food waste from businesses around Croydon and Wimbledon using a special vehicle with dual compartments for glass and food waste.

Food waste from businesses is collected in biodegradable ‘kitchen caddy’ sized bags, which are then sealed. The multiple bags are then collected once a week by the truck and recycled at the company’s in vessel composting facilities.

A Sita spokesman told MRW: “After the Mayor’s waste strategy sought to promote diversion from landfill, we are keen to encourage businesses to achieve the same aims.”

Sita hopes to recycle up to 2,000 tonnes of food waste during the first stage of the programme, and has already attracted interest from a number of restaurants and food production hubs in the South London area. If the first stage proves successful, the initiative will be extended across London.

The company’s initial scheme represents a growing interest in the issue of commercial food waste recycling, according to LRS Consultancy, who collaborated with Sita on the project.

Following two commercial food recycling trials conducted by LRS in association with the London Development Agency (LDA) in Islington and Park Royal last year, it was found that as much as 20% of commercial waste was food.

LRS Consultancy senior consultant Sarah Jones told MRW: “We found businesses didn’t realise how much food waste they were producing, as it tends to sink to the bottom of the bin. It’s definitely a significant waste stream [for businesses].”

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